Two students from Dr. Chris McAllister’s Summer 2025 Biology 2289 course recently coauthored two peer-reviewed scientific publications, an achievement that is rare for community college students.
Gracie Gray and Stephanie Hernandez collaborated on one paper published in the journal Taxonomy describing a new species of coccidian parasite discovered in a reptile in Arkansas. A second paper, focusing on a coccidian parasite found in a northern cardinal in Arkansas, is scheduled to appear in an upcoming issue of The Southwestern Naturalist.
The publications mark a significant milestone for both students, as each has now contributed to two refereed scientific journals.
Gray has since earned a Bachelor of Science degree and plans to pursue a career in blood banking, with long-term plans to obtain a master’s degree. Hernandez is currently an Honors student at NTCC.
The Taxonomy article is available online at:
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6500/6/1/8
